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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL 89 He had a large collection of specimens, all localised, as well as a library of books on his favourite subjects. Some important sections of his collect- ions he disposed of during the last few years of his life. The very consider- able remainder has been placed, in accordance with his wishes, with national and local museums and teaching establishments. The British Museum (Natural History) has taken charge of his catalogues, so that anyone with specimens bearing his markings or label will be able to trace the location and history. H.D.H. ERNEST NUTTALL died at the age of sixty-six, thus depriving our Association of a worthy member of many years' standing and one of the little group of enthusiasts who founded the North-East Lancashire Group. He was born at Goodshaw in the Rossendale Hills amongst a sturdy population whose endurance matches their environment; a people who respect education and will go to much trouble to acquire it. At the age of twelve, Nuttall went down the mine, in which respect he did neither better nor worse than the bulk of Rossendale youth of his day. One who is engulfed in strata cannot fail to garner some geology and when the mind is willingly receptive, the harvest is illimitable. It was under the Rossendale Hills that Nuttall learned the rudiments of earth science; it was as a participant of the highly creditable adult education schemes of the Lancashire boroughs that he amplified his knowledge and put his learning into perspective. As a young man he walked through the dark winter evenings along the moorland road to the outskirts of Burnley and thence by tram to evening classes. Home again on foot to study, sleep and work again by 6 a.m. the following day, constituted a nightly programme which might well daunt the youngster of today, but not the men of Nut- tall's stamp in Nuttall's day. Success came in terms of certificates from the Board of Education and, eventually, as an Assistant Colliery Manager's 'ticket', but never in material progress. He was outspoken and forsook advancement to retain intellectual integrity and he maintained dignity in face of adversity. As a geologist his chief contributions were as a collector and a 'recruiting officer' for the science. His harvest of the magnificent goniatites from the roof of the Union Mine at Bank Hall Colliery, Burnley, found their way either directly or indirectly into collections of specialists and institutions all over the world. He introduced many young men to geology and their success gave him great pleasure. In later life he struggled with illness under a climate which often tries the fittest, but took a lively interest in science, books and politics to the end. He loved science and scholarship and revered their exponents. His life

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Page 1: Obituary notice, 1953

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL 89

He had a large collection of specimens, all localised, as well as a libraryof books on his favourite subjects. Some important sections of his collect­ions he disposed of during the last few years of his life. The very consider­able remainder has been placed, in accordance with his wishes, withnational and local museums and teaching establishments. The BritishMuseum (Natural History) has taken charge of his catalogues, so thatanyone with specimens bearing his markings or label will be able to tracethe location and history.

H.D.H.

ERNEST NUTTALL died at the age of sixty-six, thus depriving our Associationof a worthy member of many years' standing and one of the little groupof enthusiasts who founded the North-East Lancashire Group.

He was born at Goodshaw in the Rossendale Hills amongst a sturdypopulation whose endurance matches their environment; a people whorespect education and will go to much trouble to acquire it. At the age oftwelve, Nuttall went down the mine, in which respect he did neither betternor worse than the bulk of Rossendale youth of his day.

One who is engulfed in strata cannot fail to garner some geology andwhen the mind is willingly receptive, the harvest is illimitable. It was underthe Rossendale Hills that Nuttall learned the rudiments of earth science;it was as a participant of the highly creditable adult education schemes ofthe Lancashire boroughs that he amplified his knowledge and put hislearning into perspective. As a young man he walked through the darkwinter evenings along the moorland road to the outskirts of Burnley andthence by tram to evening classes. Home again on foot to study, sleep andwork again by 6 a.m. the following day, constituted a nightly programmewhich might well daunt the youngster of today, but not the men of Nut­tall's stamp in Nuttall's day. Success came in terms of certificates from theBoard of Education and, eventually, as an Assistant Colliery Manager's'ticket', but never in material progress.

He was outspoken and forsook advancement to retain intellectualintegrity and he maintained dignity in face of adversity. As a geologist hischief contributions were as a collector and a 'recruiting officer' for thescience. His harvest of the magnificent goniatites from the roof of the UnionMine at Bank Hall Colliery, Burnley, found their way either directly orindirectly into collections of specialists and institutions all over the world.He introduced many young men to geology and their success gave himgreat pleasure. In later life he struggled with illness under a climate whichoften tries the fittest, but took a lively interest in science, books and politicsto the end.

He loved science and scholarship and revered their exponents. His life

Page 2: Obituary notice, 1953

90 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL

was hardly noticed in the wider sphere and may soon be forgotten; but itwas not wasted.

F.H.

LOUIS BOUVIER SMYTH was born in Dublin of mixed Irish and Swiss parent­age in 1883. He received his secondary education at Wesley College andentered Trinity College, Dublin , in 1902.

He took the natural science course in botany, geology and zoology,graduating in 1906 as Senior Moderator with first place and a large goldmedal for distinguished answering. His principal subject in his degree wasbotany and he was appointed assistant to Professor H. H. Dixon . He re­mained in this post for three years, then for a year he was naturalist to theFisher ies Board of the Department of Agriculture and took part in severalcruises, studying in particular the phytoplankton. In 1911 he joined thestaff of the Iveagh Geological Laboratory under Professor John Joly wherehe spent the remainder of his career. In the same year he was married toMiss B. Farlow who survives him.

Subsequent to his appointment Smyth studied palaeontology at Oxfordunder Arthur Vaughan, and mineralogy and petrology with GrenvilleCole at the Royal College of Science, Dublin. He became lecturer in palae­ontology in 1913 and lectured in geography from 1931-4. In the latteryear he succeeded Joly in the Chair of Geology. He was well fitted to takeup the post , for , from a comparatively short time after his appointment aslecturer, he had taken a large share of the burden of the department, ashare which increased progressively. He also did much in preserving andarranging the collection in the Iveagh Geological Museum. In his lecturingas in his written work, Smyth was clear and precise, and this characteristicwas a valuable asset on committees and in the running of the department.He was secretary of the University Council and a Member of the Boardof Trinity College in his latter years.

Outside the University, Smyth took part in the scientific life of his nat ivecity. He was for many years a Member of the Council of the Royal DublinSociety. He became a Member of the Royal Irish Academy in 1927 andserved on the Council on several occasions. He was one of the originalmembers of the Committee for Quaternary Research in Ireland and hisadvice and support were most helpful in the initial stages. He organised theSouth Ireland excursion of this Association which was arranged for 1939,and was responsible for the preparation of the guide which, when theexcursion fell through owing to the imminence of war, was published inour PROCEEDINGS.

With few exceptions Smyth's published papers deal with the Carbon­iferous of Ireland, only one paper, that on the geology of Great OrmesHead, taking him outside the country.